Botswana’s High Court will hear on Thursday a case challenging the criminalisation of gay sex, offering campaigners a rare chance to argue for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights (LGBT) on a continent where homosexuality remains highly contentious. “Botswana is a diverse society and the constitution protects the freedoms and dignity of all persons in Botswana, regardless of whether you are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex,” said Anna Mmolai-Chalmers, chief executive officer of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO). The LGBT community in Botswana is hopeful that gay sex will be decriminalised as the case comes after rulings in recent years which partially acknowledged the rights of LGBT people, including their right to equal protection before the law. In 2017, a transgender woman won a legal battle against Botswana’s government to be recognised as female in a landmark victory for the rights of LGBT people. Last month the Kenyan High Court postponed until May 24 a ruling on whether to strike down or uphold a colonial-era law banning gay sex.

Source: The Star March 14, 2019 10:07 UTC